Horatio s



H. S. EARLE.

GRASS HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. 1916.

1 ,3Q9,278, Patented July 8, 1919.

(314041444101 HOKHTIO 5. E'HRZLE.

witvwoa THE COLIHBIA rmwonmwn co, WASHWGTQN, D. c.

TTED STATES PATENT @FFTTTEE.

HOBATIO S. EARLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO H. S. EARLE MFG.(30., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

GRASS-HOOIQ Application filed. April 17, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HonA'rio S. EARLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Grassliooks, and declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to grass-hooks, and its object is a grass-hook ofsimple and durable construction in whic i the blade may be readilyadjusted and set at various angles with the handle. Another object ofthe invention is a grass-hook in which the blade and handle are secured.together in a detachable relation. Another object of the invention is agrasshook having a blade of peculiar form pivotally connected wit-h thehandle and provided with a tang of such form as to enable the blade tobe secured at various angles with the handle. An additional object ofthe invention is a blade provided with a tang as stated and means forsecuring a blade to the handle adapted to wedge the blade in place andproviding a strong and durable construction for that purpose. Theseseveral objects and novel features of the invention are hereinafter morefully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawing inwhich Figure 1, is a plan view of a grasshook embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a section taken on line :Z/f(/ of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a. cross-section of the blade taken on line of Fig. 1.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing andspecification. The blade 1 may be formed of any suitable material, butis preferably made of sheet metal, tapering in form, as shown in Fig. 1,from the point to the heel and having upstanding flange 2 on the rearedge. The forward edge of the blade is sharpened as indicated at 3, andthe blade is ribbed as indicated at 4 in the drawing, to provide a bladeof proper strength although of comparatively thin material.

The blade is provided with an integrally formed. tang 5 at the heel and.the e i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 91,583.

of the tang is notched as indicated at 6. The handle is preferably ofmetal shaped substantially as shown in the drawing and provided with aflattened terminal portion 7 engaging one surface of the tang as shown.The portion 7 is apertured at 10 to receive a substantially U shapedfastening or bolt 8 which is provided with a head 9 on one legpreventing the bolt from passing through the aperture. The opposite leg11 of the bolt is threaded to receive a nut 12 and the leg 11 is formedat an angle with the body portion of the bolt greater than a rightangle. The aperture 10 is of greater diameter On one side as shown attapering toward the seat for the head 9. Also the aperture in theportion 7 of the handle through which the leg 11 passes is greater indiameter than the bolt to allow the same to move freely by tightening 0rloosening the nut 12. By this arrangement on loosening the nut 12 thebolt may be forced downward through the handle without binding in theapertures therein.

The end of the terminal portion 7 of the handle has the upper surfaceformed at a slight angle providing a seat for the nut 12, as is requiredby reason of the angularity of the portion 11 of the bolt. The blade 1is apertured at the heel to receive the leg 11 of the fastening deviceor bolt, and the blade pivots on this portion as may be understood fromthe drawing. The notches 6 are formed on an arc whose center is thepivotal center of the blade, and any of the notches 6 are adapted toengage against the headed leg of the bolt, as may be understood fromFig. 9, to prevent the movement of the blade on its pivotal point.

In securing the tang of the blade to the handleend '3' it will be notedthat, by reason of the angular relation of the leg 11 to the body of thebolt 8, as the blade is forced downward on said leg 11 the distancebetween the point of contact of the blade with portion 11 and the headedportion 9 decreases. Therefore, the notched end 6 is forced snugly intoengagement with the headed portion of the bolt. By screwing the nut 12tightly in place, the blade is thus held practically ii'ninovablerelative to the handle, but by loosening the nut 12 and at leastpartially withdrawing the blade from the portion 11, a sufiicientloosening of parts secured to enable the blade to be turned on the pivotand any one of the several notches 6 to be set to engage the headedportion 9. The blade may thus be set at various angles as is shown byfull or dotted lines in Fig. 1, and is thus adapted for use as a cornknife, grass cutter, beet topper, or other similar purpose.

As may be understood from the foregoing the device is comparativelysimple, and inexpensive to manufacture, and is readily adjusted to setthe blade at various required angles as described. The blade may also bereadily detached from the handle or folded relative thereto about thepivot le 11 by loosening the nut 12 sutficiently to zIlow the notches 6to be withdrawn from engagement with the headed portion 9 of the bolt.By either of the above methods, the device may be folded to smallcompass convenient for carrying in the pocket of the user.

Having thus briefly described my invention and its utility, what I claimand desire to secure by. Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In agrass hook, a blade provided with a tang formed integrally with andextending at an angle thereto, the terminal edge of said tang beingarcuate in shape and notched, a handle, releasable means carried by thehandle, pivotally supporting the blade and adapted to bind the blade andhandle together in wedging relation by relative longitudinal movement ofthe handle and blade.

2. In a grass hook, a blade formed of sheet metal provided with anintegral tang extending at an angle to the blade and terminating in anarcuate end and notched about the edge, a handle in pivotal relation tothe tang, and means for securing the handle to the tang adapted to drawthe handle longitudinally of the tang and hav ing a part adapted toengage any of the said notches.

3. In a grass-hook, a blade having a tang terminating in a notched end,said blade being apertured at the heel and said notched end being formedon an arc whose center is substantially the center of the aperture, anapertured handle adapted to be secured to the tang, and a U shaped boltor fastening, one leg thereof being adapted to pass through saidaperture, providing a pivot for the blade, the said notched end beingadapted to engage the opposite leg of the fastening, and a nut for thebolt to secure the parts together.

a. In a grass-hook, a blade, a tang, formed integrally therewithterminating in an arcuate notched end, the blade having an aperturecoinciding approximately with the center of the are and the handlehaving an apertured end adapted to be secured to said tang, a U shapedbolt having one leg engaging in said apertures, the notched end engagingthe opposite leg of the U, and a nut for drawing the bolt to place tobind the blade and handle together.

5. In a grass hook, a blade having a tang formed at an angle therewithand terminating in an arcuate notched end, the blade being aperturedsubstantially at the center of the are, an apertured handle, a U-shapedbolt or fastening having one leg in pivotal relation with the handle andthe other of said legs being formed at an angle greater than a rightangle with the body and adapted to pass through the said apertures inthe blade and handle, the said notched end being adapted to engage thefirst named leg of the bolt, and a nut for drawing the last namedangular leg to position to wedge the notched end into engagement withthe first named leg.

6. In a grass hook, a blade, a tang formed integrally therewith lying atan angle to the blade and terminating in an arcuate notched end, theblade having an aperture coinciding approximately with the center of thearcuate end, a handle having an apertured end adapted to be secured tothe tang, a U-shaped bolt having one leg pivotally mounted on the handleand adapted to swing in the plane occupied by the longitudinal axis ofthe said leg, the opposite leg of the U bei formed at an angle to thebody of the bolt greater than a right angle and adapted to pass throughthe apertures in the blade and handle, the aperture in the handle havinga diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the leg to allow thesame to pass freely threthrough, and a nut for drawing the angular legto place and by reason of the angularity of said leg forcing the notchedend of the tang into engagement with the opposite leg of the U.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

rronarro s. EARLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

